Back in town after an elongated absence were the Flexapleasers, four cases of carpal-tunnel syndrome waiting to happen. While everyone else was busy frothing over Alley Distortion, er, the Alley Boys, across the street at the Usual, the sound emanating from the Cactus Club was monumental--if you like Replacements-style pop mixed with Grand Funk breaks. The Flexapleasers play hard, hooky fuzz punk on "Hurt Me," "Another One of Those" and "Fishbomb." They have a tape out; get it now, because it might be worth something in a couple years.

Soda's debut tape is even better. Buy two copies--one to play, one to save for when the band hits big. Every member is a solid player: Todd Jackson's pummelling drum work, Matt Ramirez's trademark bass, Stevie Cab and Jim Leonard's dueling guitar runs, Meegan Goad's expressive Cinder Block-like vocals. This is a San Jose supergroup. Catch Soda at the Edge's Sesha show on Thursday (Jan. 25) with 187 Calm, Luxo Crush and Fine to Drive and see what I'm talking about.

Reupholstering SoFA

At a recent meeting of the South First Action Committee, downtown San Jose residents, business owners and concerned citizens discussed the image of the South First Street neighborhood. SoFA's reputation as a funky, bohemian place full of nightclubs and cafes isn't fully representative of its true diversity (or its automobile detailers and furniture stores). One topic being batted around is the future of the SoFA Street Fair, whose tumultuous ending last year signaled a turning point for fair organizers.

Suggestions--from fencing off the fair, halting alcohol sales and breaking up the fair into four different events to forgoing the event altogether--were talked about. We all know that downtown is far from Haight Street and definitely not Willow Glen, so a plan is needed as the South First Area heads toward 2000. Though nobody wants to see an end of the popular street fair, expect to see a change in its identity and its focus.

Saucee by Nature

Hip-hop fans have been crushing the Cactus on Sundays for its Hurricane nights. DJs spin wax, and performances from Homeless Derelix, the Dereliks, Mystik Journeymen and Mixed Practice have been worth writing home about. This Sunday (Jan. 28) features Saafir the Saucee Nomad (with the entire Hobo Junction crew) and Various Blends. ... Pop the hood! Fans of the kvetching, porn-hoarding, net-surfing antics of Live-105 morning man Alex "Pops" Bennett can drop by Agenda on Friday morning (Jan. 26), 6-10am, for a live broadcast of his morning show. Howard Stern devotees can see firsthand where hairboy got his act.

Janitors Clean Up

Those prickly misfits of ska Janitors Against Apartheid will play the Los Gatos Teen Center on Feb. 3 with One Eye Open and Monkey. Rumor has it, since the date coincides with AC/DC shows, that the band will perform an all-AC/DC ska covers set. Buy their CD, so they can defer the attorney's fee for that bootleg Little Caesar's shirt they made up. ... Also on the all-ages front, Tyler Kogura is setting up Thursday-night shows at the Spartan Pub. Tentative start is late February. Bands can send packages to San Jose State University Program Board, Student Union Room 350, San Jose, 95192-0132.